COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This practical workshop provides therapists with an understanding of how to evaluate and treat older persons with reduced visual function. The course focuses on visual impairment associated with the age related diseases of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Course emphasis is on teaching therapists clinical evaluations to identify and determine the extent of the individual’s visual impairment and effective treatment strategies to improve independence and safety in completing daily living activities. Appropriate documentation for insurance reimbursement will be addressed along with information on starting a low vision rehabilitation program. The workshop is appropriate for O.T.R.s and O.T.A.s who work with older persons in hospitals, rehabilitation units, residential care facilities, day and community programs, and home health.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
The course is specifically designed for occupational therapy practitioners. Physical therapists and certified assistants and speech language pathologists also will find the information applicable to practice.

	Describe common medical conditions causing low vision in adults
	Describe changes that occur in visual function from low vision conditions and their affect on occupational performance.
	Select appropriate tools to assess visual function and identify limitations in occupational performance resulting from vision loss.
	Describe the components needed to establish a low vision rehab program and the unique issues associated with provision of low vision rehabilitation including documentation.
	Design interventions to enable clients to use remaining vision more effectively to complete daily activities
	Manipulate features to achieve an optimum person/environment fit
	Effectively collaborate with ophthalmologists, optometrists and other rehab specialists.

AOTA CEUs: Following completion of the workshop the CE administrator will review the attendance logs and the course evaluations. If the participant has met the established criteria, a certificate documenting 12 AOTA Contact Hours will be sent to the the participant. "The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA."

LOCATIONS:
visABILITIES is the exclusive sponsor of this course.

Grand Ballroom
12509 Village Circle Dr.  
This course uses the *Early Departure Agenda
$345 If postmarked by 01/20/2012
$395 If postmarked after 01/20/2012

COURSE CHANGES:
The course hours may be subject to modification. We reserve the right to cancel the course and refund full tuition for due cause. Use caution when purchasing non-refundable airfares. Airfares will not be reimbursed.

REFUNDS:
Registration fee, less a $50 administration charge, is refundable if written cancellation is received two weeks prior to the program date. No refunds will be made within two weeks of the program date. Full credit in the amount of tuition may be applied to future courses, subject to availability.

EDUCATION LEVEL:

Entry Level: One year or less of clinical experience in working with persons with visual impairments.

Intermediate Level: A minimum of one year or more of clinical experience with working with persons with visual impairment from brain injury.

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MARY WARREN MS, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA is Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She was previously Director of Occupational Therapy for the Visual Independence Program, one of the first outpatient programs to receive Medicare reimbursement for low vision rehabilitation services. She is the editor of the Self Paced Clinical Study: Low Vision: Occupational Therapy Intervention with the Older Adult, published by the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2008 and authored the Occupational Therapy Guidelines for Adults with Low Vision for AOTA. Her research has been published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and she has contributed chapters to several rehabilitation textbooks. She is the chair of the AOTASB panel developing low vision certification of OTs. Her awards include the Cordelia Myer's Writer's Award from the American Occupational Therapy Association, the Award of Clinical Excellence from the Kansas Occupational Therapy Association, Outstanding Educator Award from the Missouri Occupational Therapy Association, the Healthsouth Rehabilitation Award for Clinical Excellence in Occupational Therapy from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, the Elsie McKibben Lectureship from the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association and the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching for the School of Health Professions from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.